In an increasingly globalised economy, the knock-on effect of disasters grows beyond the direct economic and social impact of the countries affected. At the same time recent years have seen a dramatic rise in the frequency and severity of catastrophes, both natural and man-made, and the trend is towards greater vulnerability and exposure, leading to larger losses.

Time has come for governments to act, not merely to react. The costs associated with natural and man-made disasters must be properly assessed and financially managed before a major loss occurs, and this requires a proactive role of governments in direct and continuous co-operation with the private sector.

Are governments in developed and emerging countries adopting efficient strategies to manage the increasing financial burden of catastrophes? What are the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the public and private sectors in the management of disaster risks and costs? How can all parties best prepare for the unprecedented challenges posed by large-scale risks?

To address these issues and develop sound policies, the OECD has established an International Network on the Financial Management of Large-Scale Catastrophes.

The Network promotes the exchange of information and experiences among policymakers, industry, and academia in both OECD and non-OECD countries.

High Level Advisory Board

The Network benefits from the guidance and intellectual leadership of a High-Level Advisory Board composed of experts from governments, private sector and academia. The High-Level Advisory Board plays a leading role in identifying and discussing the major policy issues related to the financial management of large-scale catastrophes. It also performs advisory functions to the OECD Secretary-General and to the Insurance and Private Pensions Committee (IPPC) and the Committee on Financial Markets (CMF) in the drafting of guidelines, good practices, recommendations and principles.

High-Level Advisory Board members:

Download the biographies of board members (PDF)

• Mr. Sergio Álvarez Camiña, General Manager of the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, Spain
• Mr. Steve Atkins, Chief Executive, Pool Reinsurance Co Ltd, United Kingdom
• Ms. Debra Ballen, Vice President,  Institute for Business & Home Safety, United States
• Ms. Christiane de Bondy, Secretary General, GAREAT, France
• Mr. Werner Bugl, Director for Business Development, Asia Capital Reinsurance Group (ACR), Singapore
• Prof. Peter Hoeppe, Head, Department of Geo Risks Research, Munich Reinsurance Company AG, Germany
• Mr. Rubem Hofliger Topete, General Director, Natural Disasters Fund (FONDEN), Mexico
• Prof. Howard Kunreuther, Cecilia Yen Koo Professor of Decision Sciences & Public Policy, and Co-Director, Center for Risk Management and Decision Processes OPIM Dept., The Wharton School, United States
• Mr. Ivo Menzinger, Managing Director, Global Partnerships, Head Asia and Emerging Markets Strategies, Swiss Re, Switzerland
• Dr. Erwann Michel-Kerjan, Managing Director, Center for Risk Management and Decision Processes OPIM Dept., The Wharton School, United States and Chair of the Board
• Prof. Alberto Monti, Associate Professor of Comparative Law, Institute for Advanced Study IUSS Pavia, Italy
• Dr. Robert Muir-Wood, Chief Research Officer, Risk Management Solutions (RMS), Inc., United Kingdom and Vice-Chair of the Board
• Mr. Frank Nutter, President, Reinsurance Association of America, United States
• Prof. Norio Okada, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan
• Mrs Stephane Pallez, Chief Executive Officer, Caisse Centrale de Réassurance, France
• Prof. Peijun Shi, Vice President of Beijing Normal University, Professor of Geography (Disaster and Public Security), China
• Dr. Milan Simic, Managing Director, AIR Worldwide Corporation, United States
• Mr. Neil E. Weeks, CEO, Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation, Australia and Vice-Chair of the Board
• Prof. Semih Yucemen, Head, Department of Earthquake Studies, Middle East Technical University, Turkey
• Prof. Richard Zeckhauser, Frank Plumpton Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, Harvard University, United States

Meetings - High Level Advisory Board:

• 7th Meeting of the High Level Advisory Board of the OECD International Network on Financial Management of Large-scale Catastrophes, Paris, France, 24 June 2011
• 6th Meeting of the High Level Advisory Board of the OECD International Network on Financial Management of Large-scale Catastrophes, Paris, France, 2 June 2010
• 5th Meeting of the High Level Advisory Board of the OECD International Network on Financial Management of Large-scale Catastrophes, Paris, France, 22 June 2009
• 4th Meeting of the High Level Advisory Board of the OECD International Network on Financial Management of Large-scale Catastrophes, Paris, France, 28 May 2008
• 3rd Meeting of the High Level Advisory Board of the OECD International Network on Financial Management of Large-scale Catastrophes, Paris, France, 29 October 2007
• 2nd Meeting of the High Level Advisory Board of the OECD International Network on Financial Management of Large-scale Catastrophes, Paris, France, 30 May 2007
• Inaugural meeting of the High Level Advisory Board of the OECD International Network on Financial Management of Large-scale Catastrophes, Paris, France, 8 September 2006

 Conferences:

• High-Level Roundtable on the Financial Management of Earthquakes, OECD Conference Centre, Paris, France, 23-24 June 2011
• Conference on Terrorism Risk Insurance, OECD Conference Centre, Paris, France, 1-2 June 2010 
• Second Conference on the Financial Management of Large-Scale Catastrophes, Bangkok, 24-25 September 2009
• First Conference on the Financial Management of Large-Scale Catastrophes, Hyderabad, India, 26-27 February 2007

Publications and links:

• Risk awareness, capital markets and catastrophic risks - Policy issues in insurance, 2011
• Public consultation on good practices for the mitigation and financial management of catastrophic risks, 2010  
• Draft Policy Handbook on Natural Hazard Awareness and Disaster Risk Reduction , 2009 
• Financial Management of Large-Scale Catastrophes, 2008 
• Catastrophic Risks and Insurance , 2005
• Terrorism Risk Insurance in OECD Countries, 2005
• Large-scale Disasters: Lessons Learned, 2004
• Keeping schools safe in earthquakes, 2004
• Environmental Risks and Insurance: A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Insurance in the Management of Environment-Related Risks, 2003
• Emerging Risks in the 21st Century: An Agenda for Action, 2003
• Insurance and Expanding Systemic Risks, 2003

G20/OECD methodological framework on disaster risk assessment and risk financing endorsed at the G20 meeting in Mexico City on 4-5 November 2012

2nd International Meeting on Terrorism Risk Insurance
5 December 2012
Paris

For further information
Please contact:
Mr. Timothy Bishop
E-mail: timothy.bishop@oecd.org